Most ant infestations are not that big of a deal. Sure they may be unsightly, but ultimately, they do not cause any damage to the home or pose a threat to the safety of the inhabitants. There are some species however, that should be taken seriously, and one of those species are the carpenter ants.
What are carpenter ants?
What sets carpenter ants apart is their propensity to build their colonies inside of wood. They do not pose any threat to the inhabitants of the home, although they may occasionally bite if you try to pick them up. The real problem with these ants is that they cause structural damage to the home as they create new galleries and tunnels for their colony. This makes them similar to termites, except these ants do not eat the wood, and instead have a normal ant diet that consists mostly of sugars.
Are carpenter ants as damaging as termites?
Subterranean termites are the undisputed kings when it comes to the damage that they cause. There are several reasons for this, but mainly, it’s because termite infestations are much harder to detect, and because you can have a full-size existing colony, located in the ground, infest a piece of wood.
Carpenter ants on the other hand have to start from scratch with any new colony, so it takes some time before the colony is large enough to do significant damage. The ants also have to leave the nest to look for food, which is usually how they are detected. If you notice any unusually large ants in the home, you may have a carpenter ant infestation.
Prevention and control
When it comes to preventing carpenter ant infestations, you need to keep two things in mind – their need for shelter and their need for food. These ants will target wood that has been softened by water damage so making sure that the moisture levels in the home are adequate is essential to ensuring that the ants won’t find suitable shelter. When it comes to food, the usual applies – make sure to keep all your food in sealed containers, and that you do not let any leftovers out in the open for too long.
Removing an carpenter ant infestation will require the help of a pro. This is where we come in. Contact us today if you suspect that you have a carpenter ant infestation, and we will set an appointment right away.
